'Someone In A Jet Pack' Spotted By Pilots Above LAX; Second Such Incident In Two Months

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) - For the second time in two months, a person flying in a jet pack was reportedly spotted Wednesday above Los Angeles International Airport.

Around 1:45 p.m., a China Airlines crew reported seeing "what appeared to be someone in a jet pack" at an altitude of roughly 6,000 feet about seven miles northwest of the airport, according to FAA spokesman Ian Gregor.

"We just saw a flying object like a flying suit that's passing by us..." the pilot said.

Local law enforcement was notified and is investigating the report.

The FBI released this statement to CBSLA: "The FBI is in contact with the FAA and is investigating multiple reports of what, according to witnesses, appeared to be an individual in a jetpack near LAX, including one today reported by a China Airlines crew. Anyone with information should contact the FBI at 310 477-6565."

Air traffic radio chatter described someone reporting "a flying object" in the area.

Last month, officials said a person flying in a jet pack was spotted by pilots just west of the 710 Freeway in the Cudahy and South Gate areas.

Some experts have said the object could have been a sophisticated drone. David Mayman, CEO of Jetpack Aviation said that it is unlikely these were actually people flying jetpacks.

"How is it that nobody saw them take off and land? That's what I don't understand," he said. "These machines are pretty noisy."

Mayman also said that his company would never fly jetpacks that high without careful planning and safety protocols.

"We would never fly very high without a parachute system," he said, adding "At 6,000 feet it would just take us too long. We'd run out of fuel."

While Mayman said he suspects it may not have been a person flying a jetpack, he added that the industry is evolving so quickly that nothing can be ruled out.

Jose Moreno, a longtime pilot for United, said Moreno said he believes what the crew saw and wanted to remind people that the stunt is extremely dangerous.

"You can tell the difference, not only by the speed but also by the profile," he said. "I would say that's a total disregard of safety because he's actually flying in an area where there's a lot of airliners."